All requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) must be submitted in writing to the Clover School District's Public Information Officer. Requests may be made through US Mail or email. 

The district has a practice of charging individuals or entities requesting information FOIA “the actual cost of searching for or making copies of records,” as permitted pursuant to S. C. Code Section 30-4-30(b).

After receiving a written request for information under the FOIA, the district will provide the most reasonable available estimate of costs involved in responding to the request. An advance deposit of 25% the estimated cost will be required before the district can begin the process. If deposit is not received within 30 days of sending the determination letter, the request will be considered closed.

• Fee Structure:

  • $0.10 per page copied

  • Lowest hourly rate of available employee with necessary skills to prepare/review documents.

  • The district estimates an average of two minutes of review time per email/document.

  • South Carolina Public Records Law

  • Public Official's Guide to Compliance with South Carolina's Freedom of Information Act (May 2017)

Under FERPA, a student’s “directory information” is:

"the student’s name, address, telephone listing, date and place of birth, major field of study, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, dates of attendance, degrees and awards received, and the most recent previous educational agency or institution attended by the student."

20 U.S.C. § 1232g(a)(5)(A). It is information contained in the education records of a student that would not generally be considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if disclosed. Typically, this also includes email addresses, telephone listings, photograph; grade level; and awards received. 34 C.F.R. § 99.3.

According to the U.S. Department of Education’s Privacy Technical Assistance Center (PTAC):

A school may disclose "directory information" to third parties without consent if it has given public notice of the types of information which it has designated as "directory information," the parent's or eligible student's right to restrict the disclosure of such information, and the period of time within which a parent or eligible student has to notify the school in writing that he or she does not want any or all of those types of information designated as "directory information." 34 CFR § 99.3 and 34 CFR § 99.37.

For more information, reference the PTAC publication Protecting Student Privacy While Using Online Educational Services.

• Click Here to access the State Department of Education Opt-Out Form